Liberal Democrat Councillor Shaun McGall (Oldfield) has revealed that the Government has no timetable for the Housing Reform Green paper. In a response to his letter to new Housing Minister, Margaret Beckett MP, the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State Iain Wright MP replied, saying, “We have not yet made any decisions on the timing or the content of the Housing Reform Green Paper.”

Previous Minister Caroline Flint MP had won the support of local Councillors and MPs when she announced action on “Studentification” and initial plans to give local Councils more control of Houses of Multiple Occupancy (HMOs) in their area.

It is of great concern to me that this process seems to have taken a backward step in the short time Margaret Beckett has been Housing Minister. Residents, Councillors and local MPs will now surely be worried that they will have to go back to the beginning and start campaigning all over again.

Caroline Flint seemed to understand that this was an important issue, but the reply I have now received suggests that this work is now not a priority.

Local authorities need to been given the proper controls to deal with HMOs in the way that best suits their area. There is not a one-size-fits-all solution for the entire country. I hope that the new Minister will realise this and continue the good work of her predecessor.

Shaun has lobbied both Bath MP Don Foster and Liberal Democrat Housing spokesperson Sarah Teather MP on the issue and is delighted that they are supporting the plans for local authorities to have a greater say over HMOs.